Veterans Directed Home and Community-Based Services

The Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Care program is a collaborative partnership between the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging®, Inc. and the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. The program provides services to Veterans to help them remain in their home or the home of a loved one, with the support of paid caregivers and purchased services such as chore, respite care and personal care.

Working with the Sioux Falls Health Care System’s Community Health Nurse and a case manager with the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, the Veteran develops a plan to meet their care needs. The Veteran decides what goods and services are needed for them to live independently.

The program is self-directed, which allows the Veteran to manage the care services with the help of a care consultant and financial management provider. It is built on the premise that the individual receiving care has the right and ability to assess and determine how and by whom they receive care.

There are a number of advantages to self-directed care. You can hire a family member or someone who lives nearby to provide your care. If you already have someone who helps with your care and whom you trust, you can employ that individual as your caregiver or continue to use the same agency. You can also determine what services you want from a broader list of services that are available.

Veterans must live in one of the 11 counties served by the Sioux Falls VA Medical System. Counties served by the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System include Cottonwood, Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Yellow Medicine, Rock.